U.S. patent application number 17/521878 was filed with the patent office on 2022-05-19 for front vehicle-body structure of vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to Mazda Motor Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Mazda Motor Corporation. Invention is credited to Hiroto KIDO, Fumihiro KUROHARA, Kosuke MUKAIGAWA, Satoshi NAKAMURA, Satoshi OKANO.
Application Number | 20220153352 17/521878 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-05-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220153352 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MUKAIGAWA; Kosuke ; et
al. |
May 19, 2022 |
FRONT VEHICLE-BODY STRUCTURE OF VEHICLE
Abstract
A front vehicle-body structure of a vehicle includes: side
frames of a suspension subframe; a cross member connecting
front-end portions of the side frames in the vehicle width
direction; a front beam member; and a connecting member connecting
a front-end portion of each side frame to the front beam member. A
high-rigidity portion having a higher rigidity than other portions
of the side frame is at a connecting portion between the front-end
portion of the side frame and the cross member. The front beam
member has a side end portion extending on a
vehicle-width-direction outer side relative to a connecting
position with the connecting member. A protrusion portion
protruding from the side end portion toward a vehicle rear side is
to come into contact with the high-rigidity portion from the
vehicle-width-direction outer side when a collision load from a
vehicle front side is input to the side end portion.
Inventors: |
MUKAIGAWA; Kosuke;
(Hiroshima, JP) ; KIDO; Hiroto; (Hiroshima,
JP) ; NAKAMURA; Satoshi; (Hiroshima, JP) ;
KUROHARA; Fumihiro; (Hiroshima, JP) ; OKANO;
Satoshi; (Hiroshima, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Mazda Motor Corporation |
Hiroshima |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Mazda Motor Corporation
Hiroshima
JP
|
Appl. No.: |
17/521878 |
Filed: |
November 9, 2021 |
International
Class: |
B62D 21/15 20060101
B62D021/15; B62D 25/08 20060101 B62D025/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 17, 2020 |
JP |
2020-191012 |
Claims
1. A front vehicle-body structure of a vehicle, comprising: a
suspension subframe including a pair of left and right-side frames
extending in a vehicle front-rear direction; a front cross member
connecting front-end portions of the side frames in a vehicle width
direction; a front beam member extending in the vehicle width
direction on a vehicle front side relative to the suspension
subframe; a pair of left and right connecting members connecting
front-end portions of the pair of left and right-side frames to the
front beam member in the vehicle front-rear direction; a
high-rigidity portion having a higher rigidity than other portions
of the side frame at a connecting portion between the front-end
portion of each of the side frames and the front cross member,
wherein the front beam member has a side end portion extending on a
vehicle-width-direction outer side relative to a connecting
position with each of the pair of left and right connecting
members; and a protrusion portion protruding from the side end
portion toward a vehicle rear side, the protrusion portion being
configured to come into contact with the high-rigidity portion from
the vehicle-width-direction outer side when a collision load from
the vehicle front side is input to the side end portion.
2. The front vehicle-body structure of the vehicle according to
claim 1, wherein each of the pair of left and right connecting
members between the front-end portion of the side frame and the
front beam member has a predetermined length in the vehicle
front-rear direction, and, at the side end portion, the protrusion
portion of the front beam member is provided in a range from a
position at a distance corresponding to a half of the predetermined
length of the connecting member to a position at a distance
corresponding to the predetermined length of the connecting member
with reference to the connecting position between the front beam
member and the connecting member.
3. The front vehicle-body structure of the vehicle according to
claim 2, wherein, at the side end portion, the protrusion portion
of the front beam member is provided continuously over an entire
range from the position at the distance corresponding to a half of
the predetermined length of the connecting member to the position
at the distance corresponding to the predetermined length of the
connecting member.
4. The front vehicle-body structure of the vehicle according to
claim 3, wherein the suspension subframe further includes a center
cross member extending in the vehicle width direction on the
vehicle rear side relative to the front cross member and connecting
the side frames in the vehicle width direction, and the
high-rigidity portion is formed to extend from the connecting
portion between the front-end portion of each of the side frames
and the front cross member to a connecting portion between the side
frame and the center cross member.
5. The front vehicle-body structure of the vehicle according to
claim 4, wherein the vehicle further includes a stabilizer mounted
adjacent to the front cross member and a support bracket for
supporting the stabilizer, and the support bracket is at least
partly secured to the front cross member.
6. The front vehicle-body structure of the vehicle according to
claim 3, wherein the vehicle further includes a stabilizer mounted
adjacent to the front cross member and a support bracket for
supporting the stabilizer, and the support bracket is at least
partly secured to the front cross member.
7. The front vehicle-body structure of the vehicle according to
claim 2, wherein the suspension subframe further includes a center
cross member extending in the vehicle width direction on the
vehicle rear side relative to the front cross member and connecting
the side frames in the vehicle width direction, and the
high-rigidity portion is formed to extend from the connecting
portion between the front-end portion of each of the side frames
and the front cross member to a connecting portion between the side
frame and the center cross member.
8. The front vehicle-body structure of the vehicle according to
claim 7, wherein: the connecting members are mounted and both end
portions of the front cross member are secured at a mounting
portion at the front cross member connecting front-end portions of
the side frames, both end portions of the front cross member have
an angular U-shaped cross-section, and the mounting portion has a
closed cross-section formed by this angular U-shaped cross-section
and the side frame.
9. The front vehicle-body structure of the vehicle according to
claim 2, wherein the vehicle further comprises a stabilizer mounted
adjacent to the front cross member, and a support bracket for
supporting the stabilizer, and the support bracket is at least
partly secured to the front cross member.
10. The front vehicle-body structure of the vehicle according to
claim 1, wherein the suspension subframe further includes a center
cross member extending in the vehicle width direction on the
vehicle rear side relative to the front cross member and connecting
the side frames in the vehicle width direction, and the
high-rigidity portion is formed to extend from the connecting
portion between the front-end portion of each of the side frames
and the front cross member to a connecting portion between the side
frame and the center cross member.
11. The front vehicle-body structure of the vehicle according to
claim 1, wherein the vehicle further comprises a stabilizer mounted
adjacent to the front cross member, and a support bracket for
supporting the stabilizer, and the support bracket is at least
partly secured to the front cross member.
12. The front vehicle-body structure of the vehicle according to
claim 11, wherein: the support bracket is partly secured to a
mounting portion of the front cross member on which the side frame
is mounted, the support bracket has an angular U-shaped
cross-section and is mounted to the front side frame, and the
high-rigidity portion is formed on the side frame by mounting the
support bracket to the side frame at the mounting portion.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority to Japanese
application number 2020-191012 filed in the Japanese Patent Office
on Nov. 17, 2020, the entire contents of both of which being
incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] Embodiments relate to a front vehicle-body structure of a
vehicle, and particularly relates to a front vehicle-body structure
of a vehicle including: a pair of left and right-side frames of a
suspension subframe; a cross member connecting these side frames in
a vehicle width direction; and a front beam member extending in the
vehicle width direction and connected to a front-end portion of
each of the side frames via a connecting member.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Conventionally, there has been proposed a front vehicle-body
structure that, in a so-called small overlap collision (in a
collision when, for example, a range of 30%, in the vehicle width
direction, of the front face of a vehicle overlap-collides with an
obstacle or a barrier (in a collision test)), partly transmits a
load input to a vehicle-width-direction end side of a front bumper
reinforcement to a power unit through a front side frame, and
thereby generates a lateral force on the vehicle to reduce
deformation of the vehicle (for example, Patent Literature 1).
[0004] There has also been proposed a front vehicle-body structure
that includes a load transmission member extending toward a vehicle
rear side at a side extending portion of a front bumper
reinforcement, and that, in a small overlap collision, causes the
load transmission member to come into contact with a front side
frame and deform the front side frame, and thereby absorbs
collision energy (for example, Patent Literature 2).
CITATION LIST
Patent Literatures
[0005] [Patent Literature 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication
No. 2014-113893 [0006] [Patent Literature 2] Japanese Unexamined
Patent Publication No. 2019-093942
SUMMARY
Problems to be Solved
[0007] Here, in a small overlap collision, means for reducing
collision energy by generating a lateral force on the vehicle while
reducing deformation of the vehicle as in Patent Literature 1 is
more effective.
[0008] However, according to the structure of Patent Literature 1,
although the collision energy is reduced by generating the lateral
force on the vehicle in a small overlap collision, the load cannot
be effectively transmitted in vehicles that have a relatively large
distance between the front side frame and the power unit (engine
unit) for effectively transmitting the load (such as, for example,
a vehicle with a longitudinal engine, a vehicle without an engine
like an electric automobile, and a vehicle with a relatively large
distance between the front side frame and the power unit due to a
wide tread), and hence there is a problem in effectively generating
a lateral force.
[0009] Therefore, one or more embodiments has been made to solve
the above problem and other problem. One or more embodiments
provide a front vehicle-body structure of a vehicle capable of
effectively generating a lateral force in the vehicle width
direction on the vehicle in a so-called small overlap
collision.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0010] In order to solve the above problem and other problems, one
or more embodiments are directed to a front vehicle-body structure
of a vehicle, including: a suspension subframe including a pair of
left and right-side frames extending in a vehicle front-rear
direction, and a cross member connecting front-end portions of the
side frames in a vehicle width direction; a front beam member
extending in the vehicle width direction on a vehicle front side
relative to the suspension subframe; and a pair of left and right
connecting members connecting the front-end portions of the pair of
left and right-side frames to the front beam member in the vehicle
front-rear direction. At a connecting portion between the front-end
portion of each of the side frames and the cross member, a
high-rigidity portion having a higher rigidity than other portions
of the side frame may be provided. The front beam member may have a
side end portion extending on a vehicle-width-direction outer side
relative to a connecting position with each of the connecting
members, and a protrusion portion protruding from the side end
portion toward a vehicle rear side. The protrusion portion may be
configured to come into contact with the high-rigidity portion from
the vehicle-width-direction outer side when a collision load from
the vehicle front side is input to the side end portion.
[0011] Accordingly, at the connecting portion between the front-end
portion of the side frame and the cross member, the high-rigidity
portion having a higher rigidity than other portions of the side
frame is formed, and the protrusion portion of the front beam
member is configured to come into contact with the high-rigidity
portion from the vehicle-width-direction outer side when a
collision load from the vehicle front side is input to the side end
portion of the front beam member. Therefore, in a so-called small
overlap collision, a collision load directed toward the vehicle
rear side that is received by the side end portion is transmitted
to the cross member through the high-rigidity portion as a load
directed toward the vehicle width direction, thereby effectively
generating a lateral force in the vehicle width on the vehicle.
Such generation of a lateral force causes lateral movement of the
vehicle in the small overlap collision, thereby reducing
impact.
[0012] The connecting member between the front-end portion of the
side frame and the front beam member may have a predetermined
length in the vehicle front-rear direction, and, at the side end
portion, the protrusion portion of the front beam member may be
provided in a range from a position at a distance corresponding to
a half of the predetermined length of the connecting member to a
position at a distance corresponding to the predetermined length of
the connecting member with reference to the connecting position
between the front beam member and the connecting member.
[0013] The protrusion portion of the front beam member at the side
end portion may be mounted in the range from a position at a
distance corresponding to a half of the predetermined length of the
connecting member to a position at a distance corresponding to the
predetermined length of the connecting member, the distances being
measured from the connecting position between the front beam member
and the connecting member. Here, it is assumed that, in a so-called
small overlap collision, a main load input position to the side end
portion (the load input position in the vehicle width direction of
the side end portion) varies, and consequently a deformed state of
the side end portion of the front beam member varies. Even in such
a case, according to one or more embodiments, since the protrusion
member is mounted in the predetermined distance range at the side
end portion, the protrusion portion may come into contact with the
high-rigidity portion and generate a lateral force directed toward
the vehicle width direction on the vehicle.
[0014] The protrusion portion of the front beam member at the side
end portion may be provided continuously over the entire range from
the position at the distance corresponding to a half of the
predetermined length of the connecting member to the position at
the distance corresponding to the predetermined length of the
connecting member.
[0015] According to one or more embodiments thus configured, the
protrusion portion may more effectively come into contact with the
high-rigidity portion.
[0016] The suspension subframe may further include a center cross
member extending in the vehicle width direction on the vehicle rear
side relative to the cross member and connecting the side frames in
the vehicle width direction. The high-rigidity portion may extend
from the connecting portion between the front-end portion of each
of the side frames and the cross member to a connecting portion
between the side frame and the center cross member.
[0017] According to one or more embodiments thus configured, since
the high-rigidity portion extends from the connecting portion
between the front-end portion of the side frame and the cross
member to the connecting portion between the side frame and the
center cross member, a load input to the high-rigidity portion from
the vehicle-width-direction outer side may be transmitted to the
center cross member to more effectively generate a lateral force
directed toward the vehicle width direction on the vehicle.
[0018] The vehicle may further include a stabilizer mounted
adjacent to the cross member, and a support bracket for supporting
the stabilizer. The support bracket may be at least partly secured
to the cross member.
[0019] According to one or more embodiments thus configured, since
the support bracket of the stabilizer is at least partly secured to
the cross member, a load input from the vehicle-width-direction
outer side may be transmitted to the stabilizer to more effectively
generate a lateral force directed toward the vehicle width
direction on the vehicle.
Advantageous Effects
[0020] According to the front vehicle-body structure of the vehicle
according to one or more embodiments, in a so-called small overlap
collision, a lateral force in the vehicle width direction on the
vehicle may be effectively generated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing mainly a suspension subframe
of a vehicle front portion to which a front vehicle-body structure
of a vehicle according to an embodiment, and a load receiving
member in front of the suspension subframe as viewed from the
vehicle upper side.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the structure of the left side
of the vehicle front portion shown in FIG. 1, a bumper and so on as
viewed from the vehicle upper side.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a cross member securing
structure and a torsion bar mounting structure at a front-end
portion of the suspension subframe according to the present
embodiment as viewed from the vehicle upper side.
[0024] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing a side end
portion of a front beam member according to the present
embodiment.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a plan view for explaining the positional
relationship among a side frame, a connecting member, and a
protrusion mounted to the side end portion of the front beam member
at a left front portion of the vehicle of the present
embodiment.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the left front portion of the
vehicle, which shows a non-deformed state of the front vehicle-body
structure of the vehicle of the present embodiment before a
collision.
[0027] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the left front portion of the
vehicle, which shows one example of a deformed state of the front
vehicle-body structure of the vehicle of the present embodiment
after a collision.
[0028] FIG. 8 is a plan view of the left front portion of the
vehicle, which shows another example of a deformed state of the
front vehicle-body structure of the vehicle of the present
embodiment after a collision.
[0029] FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the left front portion of the
vehicle, for explaining a concept of load transmission in the front
vehicle-body structure of the vehicle of the present embodiment in
a collision.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] Hereinafter, a front vehicle-body structure of a vehicle
according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the
attached drawings.
[0031] First, a schematic configuration of the front vehicle-body
structure of the vehicle according to the embodiment will be
described using FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing
mainly a suspension subframe of a vehicle front portion to which
the front vehicle-body structure of the vehicle according to the
embodiment is applied, and a load receiving member in front of the
suspension subframe as viewed from the vehicle upper side. FIG. 2
is a plan view showing the structure of the left side of the
vehicle front portion shown in FIG. 1, a bumper and so on as viewed
from the vehicle upper side. In FIG. 1, illustrations of a front
side frame, a crush can, a bumper reinforcement, an engine unit,
etc. mounted at the vehicle front portion are omitted.
[0032] First, as shown in FIG. 1, at a front portion of a vehicle 1
to which the front vehicle-body structure of a vehicle according to
the embodiment is applied, a suspension subframe 2, a front beam
member 4 extending in a vehicle width direction W in front of the
suspension subframe 2, and a pair of left and right connecting
members 6 connecting a front portion of the suspension subframe 2
to the front beam member 4 are mounted.
[0033] The suspension subframe 2 mainly includes a pair of left and
right-side frames (suspension side frames) 8 spaced apart along the
vehicle width direction W, a front cross member (front suspension
cross member) 10 extending in the vehicle width direction W to
connect front-end portions 8a of these side frames 8, a center
cross member (center suspension cross member) 12 extending in the
vehicle width direction W to connect the side frames 8 on the
vehicle rear side relative to the center cross member 12, and a
reinforcement member 14.
[0034] The center cross member 12 functions as the suspension cross
member 12 supporting a suspension 16. An upper suspension arm 16a
is swingably supported by a suspension support member 13 mounted to
the side frame 8, and a lower suspension arm 16b is swingably
supported by a suspension support member 15 mounted to the side
frame 8. In the suspension cross member 12, as shown in FIG. 1,
both edge portions 12a secured to the side frames 8 extend for a
predetermined length in a vehicle front-rear direction F-R to
effectively receive a load from the suspensions 16 input to the
suspension support members 13, 15. The load from the suspensions 16
input to each of the suspension support members 13, 15 is also
received by the front cross member 10.
[0035] A stabilizer bar (stabilizer) 18 for connecting the left and
right suspensions 16 to each other is attached to the suspensions
16. The stabilizer bar 18 is supported swingably on the side frames
8 by later-described support brackets 40, 42.
[0036] In the embodiment, the front vehicle-body structure in the
length direction L of the vehicle is basically formed to be
left-right symmetrical in the vehicle width direction W of the
vehicle, and hereinafter, the left-side portion of the vehicle in
the vehicle width direction W will be mainly described.
[0037] Here, reference sign 20 shown in FIG. 2 represents a front
differential gear of an engine unit, reference sign 22 represents a
front axle, reference sign 24 represents a front wheel, reference
signs 26, 28 represent a steering mechanism and a tie rod,
respectively, and reference sign 30 represent a suspension
tower.
[0038] Moreover, as shown by a virtual line in FIG. 2, reference
sign 32 represents a pair of left and right front side frames
extending in the vehicle front-rear direction F-R from a bulk head
toward the vehicle front side, and the crush cans are connected to
the front-ends of these front side frames 32, respectively, and a
bumper reinforcement extending in the vehicle width direction W is
connected to these crush cans.
[0039] The suspension subframe 2, the connecting members 6, the
front beam member 4, and so on of the front vehicle-body structure
of the vehicle 1 of the present embodiment are mounted on the
vehicle lower side of the front side frames 32, etc.
[0040] In a frontal collision with an obstacle, particularly, for
example, in a frontal collision with a smaller vehicle or an
obstacle having a lower height relative to the vehicle 1, the
vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment receives a collision
load transmitted from a front bumper 34 (see FIG. 2) by the bumper
reinforcement and the crush cans on the vehicle upper side, and
also by the front beam member 4 on the vehicle lower side.
[0041] Reference sign 36 shown in FIG. 2 is the obstacle, and
indicates a barrier used in collision tests.
[0042] Next, a high-rigidity portion formed at the side frame in
the front vehicle-body structure of the vehicle of the present
embodiment will be described using FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a plan view
showing a cross member securing structure and a torsion bar
mounting structure at the front-end portion of the suspension
subframe of the present embodiment as viewed from the vehicle upper
side.
[0043] As shown in FIG. 3, the connecting members 6 are mounted,
and both end portions of the front cross member 10 are secured at
the front-end portions 8a of the side frames 8. Both end portions
of the front cross member 10 are formed with an angular U-shaped
cross-section and a mounting portion 8b with a closed cross-section
is formed by this angular U-shaped cross-section and the side frame
8. At this mounting portion 8b, the front cross member 10 is
mounted to the side frame 8 by spot welding, bolt fastening, or the
like.
[0044] Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the support bracket 40 for
supporting the stabilizer bar 18 is partly secured to the mounting
portion 8b of the front cross member 10. A support member 42 that
supports the stabilizer bar 18 swingably is secured to the support
bracket 40 by bolt fastening.
[0045] The support bracket 40 is a member with an angular U-shaped
cross-section, and is mounted to the front side frame 10 (the
mounting portion 8b) and the side frame 8 by spot welding or the
like to form a mounting portion 8c having a closed
cross-section.
[0046] On the vehicle rear side of the mounting portion 8c, the
center cross member 12 is mounted via the mounting portion 8d to
the side frame 8 by spot welding, bolt fastening or the like.
[0047] In the present embodiment, first, by mounting the stabilizer
support bracket 40 to the side frame 8 at the mounting portion 8c,
the high-rigidity portion is formed on the side frame 8. In
particular, since the mounting portion 8c has the closed
cross-section, rigidity is enhanced.
[0048] Moreover, by mounting the front cross member 10 to the side
frame 8 at the mounting portion 8b, the high-rigidity portion is
formed on the side frame 8. In particular, since the mounting
portion 8b has the closed cross-section, rigidity is enhanced.
[0049] Further, the side frame 8 itself has a closed cross-section,
and rigidity is enhanced by a reinforcement member and the like
inside the closed cross-section. Additionally, the side frame 8 has
an enhanced rigidity in the vehicle width direction by forming a
wider cross-section having a vehicle-width-direction dimension
greater than a dimension in the vehicle up-down direction, between
the front-end portion 8a of the side frame 8 and the mounting
portion 8d of the center cross member 12.
[0050] Furthermore, by mounting the center cross member 12 to the
side frame 8 at the mounting portion 8d, a high-rigidity portion is
formed on the side frame 8.
[0051] In the present embodiment, a high-rigidity portion 8e
extending from the front-end portion 8a of the side frame 8 to the
mounting portion 8d of the center cross member 12 is formed by the
mounting portions 8b, 8c, 8d and the own rigidity of the side
frame. More specifically, on the side frame 8, the high-rigidity
portion 8e is formed from the mounting portion 8b of the front
cross member 10 to the mounting portion 8d of the center cross
member 12. In the present embodiment, particularly, rigidity of the
high-rigidity portion 8e is secured by the stabilizer support
bracket 40 (mounting portion 8c).
[0052] Next, the configuration of the front beam member of the
front vehicle-body structure of the vehicle according to the
present embodiment will be described using FIG. 1 and FIG. 4. FIG.
4 is an enlarged perspective view showing a side end portion of the
front beam member according to the present embodiment.
[0053] As shown in FIG. 4, the front beam member 4 has a connecting
portion 4a with the connecting member 6. The front beam member 4
has a side end portion/extending portion 4b extending from this
connecting portion 4a toward a vehicle-width-direction outer side,
and a protrusion member 44 is mounted to this side end portion 4b
to protrude from the side end portion 4b toward the vehicle rear
side. In the present embodiment, the protrusion member 44 may be
made of an aluminum alloy with enhanced rigidity, and may have a
hollow portion formed for weight reduction while maintaining the
rigidity. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the protrusion member
44 is inserted into an opening of an end portion 4c of the side end
portion 4b.
[0054] Next, the positional relationship among the side frame 8,
the connecting member 6, and the protrusion member 44 formed at the
side end portion of the front beam member 4 of the front
vehicle-body structure of the vehicle of the present embodiment
will be described using FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a plan view for
explaining the positional relationship among the side frame 8, the
connecting member 6, and the protrusion member 44 formed at the
side end portion of the front beam member 4 at the left front
portion of the vehicle of the present embodiment.
[0055] As shown in FIG. 5, the connecting member 6 has a length L
in the vehicle front-end direction and the side end portion 4b of
the front beam member 4 extends in the vehicle width direction to
have at least the length L of the connecting member 6. The
extension of the side end portion 4b needs to be longer than or
equal to the length L, and the side end portion 4b extends by the
same length L as the connecting member 6 in the example shown in
FIG. 5, and longer than the length L in FIG. 8 described later.
[0056] As shown in FIG. 5, at the side end portion 4b of the front
beam member 4, the protrusion member 44 is mounted to extend from a
position at a distance (L/2) corresponding to a half of the length
L of the connecting member 6, within the length from the connecting
portion 4a with the connecting member 6 to the end portion 4c, to a
position at a distance corresponding to the length L. In the
example shown in FIG. 5, the protrusion member 44 is mounted as a
continuous body extending to the end portion 4c. The protrusion
member 44 may be divided into a plurality of pieces and mounted as
long as the protrusion members 44 come into contact with the
high-rigidity portion 8e in a collision.
[0057] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 8 described later, when the side
end portion 4b extends longer than the length L of the connecting
member 6, the protrusion member 44 is mounted in the range of
length from L/2 to L from the connecting portion 4a with the
connecting member 6. A contact portion 8f of the side frame 8 shown
in FIG. 5 indicates, according to calculations, a contact
position/touching position of the protrusion member 44 when the
side end portion 4b of the front beam member 4 is deformed to
simply bend in the direction indicated with an arrow B around a
position indicated with A.
[0058] Next, a function of the front vehicle-body structure of the
vehicle of the embodiment in a small overlap collision will be
described using FIG. 6 to FIG. 9. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the left
front portion of the vehicle, which shows a non-deformed state of
the front vehicle-body structure of the vehicle of the present
embodiment before a collision, FIG. 7 is a plan view of the left
front portion of the vehicle, which shows one example of a deformed
state of the front vehicle-body structure of the vehicle of the
present embodiment after a collision, FIG. 8 is a plan view of the
left front portion of the vehicle, which shows another example of a
deformed state of the front vehicle-body structure of the vehicle
of the present embodiment after a collision, and FIG. 9 is a plan
view showing the left front portion of the vehicle, for explaining
a concept of load transmission in the front vehicle-body structure
of the vehicle of the present embodiment in a collision.
[0059] First, in a small overlap collision, a load is transmitted
to the front beam member 4 from an obstacle colliding with the
front bumper 34 (see reference sign 36 in FIG. 2).
[0060] For example, when the input position (input position in the
vehicle width direction) of the collision load to the side end
portion 4b of the front beam member 4 is a position spaced part
from the connecting portion 4a with the connecting member 6, the
front beam member 4 is mainly deformed to bend toward the vehicle
rear side, and is deformed from the state shown in FIG. 6 into the
state shown in FIG. 7. Due to such a deformation, as shown in FIG.
7, the protrusion member 44 comes into contact with the
high-rigidity portion 8e. In such a small overlap collision,
although there is a variation in the deformation amount when the
front beam member 4 is deformed toward the vehicle rear side by the
transmission of the load to the connecting member 6, it is possible
to cause the protrusion member 44 to come into contact with the
high-rigidity portion with the deformation of the connecting member
6.
[0061] When the input position of the collision load to the side
end portion 4b is a position near the connecting portion 4a with
the connecting member 6, as shown in FIG. 8, the connecting member
6 is deformed as if being crushed, and the front beam member 4 is
deformed and moved toward the vehicle rear side. Due to such a
deformation, as shown in FIG. 8, the protrusion member 44 comes
into contact with the high-rigidity portion 8e.
[0062] In particular, in the present embodiment, since the
protrusion member 44 is mounted at least on a position at a
relatively close distance L/2 to the connecting portion 4a with the
connecting member 6, even when the connecting member 6 itself is
deformed as if being crushed, the protrusion member 44 surely comes
into contact with the high-rigidity portion 8e.
[0063] Next, the transmission of load to the respective members
when the protrusion member 44 comes into contact with the
high-rigidity portion 8e in a small overlap collision will be
described using FIG. 9.
[0064] As shown in FIG. 9, when the protrusion member 44 comes into
contact with the high-rigidity portion 8e due to deformation of the
front beam member 4 and the connecting member 6 in the small
overlap collision, a load as shown by an arrow F1 is input to the
front beam member 4 from the obstacle 36, and this input load is
transmitted from the protrusion member 44 to the high-rigidity
portion 8e of the side frame 8 as a load indicated by an arrow F2.
Such a load F2 is partly transmitted to the front cross member 10
as shown by an arrow F3 through the high-rigidity portion 8e of the
side frame 8 and the mounting portions 8b, 8c, and also transmitted
to the stabilizer bar 18 as shown by an arrow F4.
[0065] Moreover, the load F2 is partly transmitted toward the
vehicle rear side through the high-rigidity portion 8e of the side
frame 8 as shown by an arrow F5, and transmitted to the center
cross member 12 through the mounting portion 8d as shown by arrow
F6.
[0066] With such load transmission, in a so-called small overlap
collision, a collision load directed toward the vehicle rear side
that is received by the side end portion 4b is transmitted as a
load directed toward the vehicle width direction to the respective
members 10, 18, 12 through the high-rigidity portion 8e of the side
frame 8. Particularly, in the present embodiment, since the
rigidity of the mounting portion 8c is enhanced, the load is
transmitted mainly to the front cross member 10. Therefore,
according to the present embodiment, it is possible to effectively
generate a lateral force in the vehicle width direction on the
vehicle. Such generation of a lateral force causes lateral movement
of the vehicle in the small overlap collision, thereby reducing
impact.
[0067] Next, the function and effect of the front vehicle-body
structure of the vehicle according to the embodiment will be
described.
[0068] First, according to the embodiment, the high-rigidity
portion 8e having a higher rigidity than in other portions of the
side frame 8 is formed at the connecting portion (mounting portion
8b) between the front-end portion 8a of the side frame 8 and the
cross member 10, and the front beam member 4 has the side end
portion 4b extending on the vehicle-width-direction outer side
relative to the connecting portion 4a with the connecting member 6,
and the protrusion member 44 protruding from the side end portion
4b toward the vehicle rear side, the protrusion member 44 being
configured to come into contact with the high-rigidity portion 8e
from the vehicle-width-direction outer side when a collision load
is input to the side end portion 4b from the vehicle front side.
Thus, according to the present embodiment, in a so-called small
overlap collision, a collision load directed toward the vehicle
rear side that is received by the side end portion 4b is
transmitted as a load directed toward the vehicle width direction
to the cross member 10 through the high-rigidity portion 8e. Thus,
a lateral force in the vehicle width direction on the vehicle 1 may
be effectively generated. Such generation of a lateral force causes
lateral movement of the vehicle 1 in the small overlap collision,
thereby reducing impact.
[0069] Moreover, according to the present embodiment, at the side
end portion 4b, the protrusion member 44 of the front beam member 4
is provided in a range from a position at a distance (L/2)
corresponding to a half of a predetermined length L of the
connecting member 6 to a position at a distance (L) corresponding
to the predetermined length L of the connecting member 6 with
reference to the connecting portion 4a between the front beam
member 4 and the connecting member 6. Here, it is assumed that, in
a so-called small overlap collision, a main load input position to
the side end portion 4b (the load input position in the vehicle
width direction of the side end portion 4b) varies, and
consequently a deformed state of the side end portion 4b of the
front beam member 4 varies. Even in such a case, according to the
present embodiment, since the protrusion member 44 is mounted in
the predetermined distance range (L/2 to L) at the side end portion
4b, the protrusion member 44 may more effectively come into contact
with the high-rigidity portion 8e and generate the lateral force
directed toward the vehicle width direction on the vehicle 1.
[0070] Further, according to the present embodiment, since the
protrusion member 44 of the front beam member 4 is continuously
mounted over the entire range from a position at the distance (L/2)
corresponding to a half of a predetermined length of the connecting
member 6 to a position at the distance (L) corresponding to the
predetermined length of the connecting member 6 at the side end
portion 4b, the protrusion member 44 may more effectively come into
contact with the high-rigidity portion 8e.
[0071] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, since the
high-rigidity portion 8e is formed to extend from the connecting
portion (mounting portion 8b) between the front-end portion 8a of
the side frame 8 and the cross member 10 to the connecting portion
(mounting portion 8d) between the side frame 8 and the center cross
member 12, the load input to the high-rigidity portion 8e from the
vehicle-width-direction outer side is also transmitted to the
center cross member 12, thereby more effectively generating the
lateral force directed toward the vehicle width direction on the
vehicle 1.
[0072] In addition, according to the present embodiment, the
vehicle 1 includes the support bracket 40 for supporting the
stabilizer 18 mounted adjacent to the cross member 10 and the
support bracket 40 is at least partly secured to the cross member
10. Therefore, the load input from the vehicle-width-direction
outer side is also transmitted to the stabilizer 18 by the
protrusion member 44, thereby more effectively generating the
lateral force directed toward the vehicle width direction on the
vehicle 1.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0073] 1 Vehicle [0074] 2 Suspension subframe [0075] 4 Front beam
member [0076] 4a Connecting portion with connecting member [0077]
4b Side end portion [0078] 4c End portion [0079] 6 Connecting
member [0080] 8 Side frame/suspension side frame [0081] 8a
Front-end portion of side frame [0082] 8b Mounting portion of front
cross member [0083] 8c Mounting portion of support bracket [0084]
8d Mounting portion of center cross member [0085] 8e High-rigidity
portion [0086] 8f Expected contact position [0087] 10 Front cross
member/front suspension cross member [0088] 12 Center cross
member/center suspension cross member [0089] 13, 15 Suspension
support member [0090] 16 Suspension [0091] 18 Stabilizer bar,
stabilizer [0092] 34 Front bumper [0093] 36 Obstacle/barrier [0094]
40 Support bracket of stabilizer bar [0095] 42 Support member
[0096] 44 Protrusion member (protrusion) [0097] F1-F6 Load
* * * * *